We won’t say we told you so. We’ll say we told them so. After six months of being cautious about high—sometimes record-breaking—new car sales, July showed signs of weakness. Pundits and analysts pointed to the same reasons we brought you earlier this year, saying that pent-up demand and low interest rates couldn’t keep auto sales high in spite of a weak economy forever. GM and Ford explained sales dips in July as a product of lower government and corporate fleet sales. Hyundai says it’s having trouble keeping its dealers stocked; there’s a 12-day supply of Azeras on lots, which is far below the industry average.

This month, we dive into deals on mainstream sedans, ask whether hybrids are really making an impact, and in honor of the London Olympic games, do a little U.S.-U.K. comparison.

Why Buy New When You Can Buy New?

Percent by which Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, and Chevy Malibu sales increased during the first seven months of this year from the same period in 2011, respectively: 28, 6, 2Estimated on-sale date for the next-generation Accord: Fall 2012Estimated on-sale date for the next-generation Fusion: October 2012Date the 2013 Malibu began sales: March 2012Average discount on the Honda Accord, according to TrueCar.com: $1804Average discount on the Ford Fusion, according to TrueCar.com: $3198Average discount on the outgoing Chevy Malibu, according to TrueCar.com: $2533

What the numbers reveal: Honda, Ford, and Chevy all are talking up big sales of their big sedans—Ford’s press release began “Ford Fusion Achieves Best-Ever July Sales”—but this is because all three are clearing out old inventory. Incentives, both to direct to customers and to dealers, cut thousands off of sticker prices for these cars. Chevy is taking a particularly bad beating on sales of the new 2013 Malibu, because a 2012 Malibu sticker at around $6000 cheaper than the hybrid-only Malibu Eco (The non-hybrid 2013 Malibu 2.5 arrives soon.)

Hybrids in Perspective

Total hybrid sales through July 2012, according to HybridCars.com: 249,311 Chance that a hybrid sold during that time wears a Prius badge: 55% Ratio of Ford F-150 sales to cumulative hybrid sales so far in 2012: 7:5 Rank of the standard Toyota Prius (excluding the Prius C and V) among all vehicle sales in July 2012: 31
Vehicles that outsold the standard Prius in July 2012: Jeep Wrangler, Honda Odyssey, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota Tacoma, Kia Sorento
Sales of the standard Prius in July 2012: 9936 Sales of the Prius V in July 2012: 2954 Sales of the Prius C in July 2012: 3065What the numbers reveal: Hybrid sales are growing quickly—there was a 63-percent increase in sales from the first seven months of 2011 to the first seven months of 2012—but they’re still a relatively small percentage of the market. The Prius’s lead over other hybrids is ample, and it’s the strongest name in the industry. That’s why two other hybrid Toyotas are also called Priuses, even if the Prius C is closer to a Yaris than to its bigger siblings. The bigger Prius V and bare-bones Prius C are selling pretty well, by the way.

World Beater? Try Sales Beater

Sales of the BMW 3-series so far in 2012: 54,415Percent increase this represents over the same period in 2011: 4Ratio of 3-series sales to Mercedes C-class sales in July 2012: 3:2To Audi A4 sales: 2:1To Lexus IS sales: 3:1To Volvo S60 sales: 4:1What the numbers reveal: The 3-series still is a sales ninja. It accounts for more than one third of BMW’s American sales volume, even though it’s just one of nine models in the brand’s lineup. Competitors need to be very careful to distinguish their products from the 3, because in a true head-to-head sales battle, BMW is wearing a Pickelhaube.